Which Fighter type is best?

Abecedarian · Post by **Abecedarian** » Mon Jan 08, 2001 12:02 am

I plan on playing a fighter the next time through. Which would you recommend--a Fighter, a Berserker, or a Wizard Slayer?
(Kensai is out.) I can't decide.

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Mon Jan 08, 2001 2:03 am

Berserker, IMHO. Kensai at higher levels are absolutely awesome, but you have to go through some difficult times before you get there.
The bonuses to berserkers are great, and the negatives are easily acceptable. During the berserking stage, they rock! Impervious to most mind-affecting spells, as well as having the awesome combat bonuses. The battle is rarely still going when you finally reach the winded stage.

Black Hand · Post by **Black Hand** » Mon Jan 08, 2001 3:18 am

I agree with that. The Wizard slayer and Kensai may have more powerful special abilities, but their disadvantages are hard to bear.

Especially the Kensai's 'absolutely-no-armor-allowed,-not-even-bracers-of-protection'-penalty is very hard for a fighter character.

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Mon Jan 08, 2001 3:38 am

The kensai's ability to deal out massive ammounts of damage with lightning speed does offset their penalties of no armor, however, it is a pain to get to those high levels where you absolutely rule.

The wizard slayer, IMO, is one of the toughest classes to play, due to their penalties. They never get powerful at high levels like the kensai.

TheRaven · Post by **TheRaven** » Mon Jan 08, 2001 5:38 am

I am playing a Barbarian and loving it so far.

They get more Hitpoints than any other class. At around L10-11 I already have about 160.

They also have a rage ability which is almost exactly like the berserker rage ability except there isn't a short term penalty after the rage is over.

Main downside is they can't use full plate mail. They can use regular platemail though. It does limit your ac on the chest item to a maximum of 1 from the Shadow Dragon Armour.

I have found so far that my Barbarian is one heck of a tank despite being one or two ac behind minsc and Keldorn in my party.

Siike · Post by **Siike** » Mon Jan 08, 2001 6:26 am

Most people forget that the best armor-spell, spirit armot, can be cast to other characters too. It acts like a full plate mail (ac 1) plus it gives +3 to save vs spells. Because it isn't magically enchanted armor, like full plate mail +2, it can be combined with for example ring of protection +2. Spirit armor is lvl 4 spell so you can get it very early. It lasts 10 turns which is more than enough, you don't have to cast it very often. This way I got my Kensai's ac to -10 after 4-5 days in the game time. Besides, you don't need to find a good armor and can save that Armor of Hart to your paladin

Siike · Post by **Siike** » Mon Jan 08, 2001 6:27 am

Most people forget that the best armor-spell, spirit armot, can be cast to other characters too. It acts like a full plate mail (ac 1) plus it gives +3 to save vs spells. Because it isn't magically enchanted armor, like full plate mail +2, it can be combined with for example ring of protection +2. Spirit armor is lvl 4 spell so you can get it very early. It lasts 10 turns which is more than enough, you don't have to cast it very often. This way I got my Kensai's ac to -10 after 4-5 days in the game time. Besides, you don't need to find a good armor and can save that Armor of Hart to your paladin

Elenias Nal'nair · Post by **Elenias Nal'nair** » Mon Jan 08, 2001 10:34 am

...a slight downside of the Barbarian is that he can't specialize beyond normal spec. (+1/+2). Weapon mastery is just too cool to miss for a fighter.
...the HP-bonus (d12) is nice but not that awesome. Since it's 'in the dice' you only could have some (0-20) more HP than fighter. It's like one creatures strike more or not you can eat...